Religion Plays Role in Iraqi Politics

An Iraqi man held a picture of top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali Husseini al-Sistani.

The Shiite religious establishment has a profound influence on Iraq’s Shiites, but that influence can work in subtle and unexpected ways.

Consider the example of Ahmed Qassem, a 25-year-old voter who works in his uncle’s jewelry shop ringing the revered Shiite shrine in the Baghdad neighborhood of Kadhimmiya. Mr. Qassem said he had decided he would go vote only to tear up his ballot in protest against the dearth of quality candidates. Then Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Shia Islam’s highest religious authority, issued a rare public statement connected to the elections in which he urged people to vote, though he refrained from endorsing any candidate. That made Mr. Qassem reconsider.

“I was going to destroy my ballot, but after Sistani said go vote, I decided to go, and I’ll vote for Allawi because only a secular leader will benefit us,” said Mr. Qassem.

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